After more than three decades helping turn a small neighborhood agency into a major Arab American network, Maha Freij is planning her exit from the top job at Dearborn-based nonprofit ACCESS.
Freij announced Tuesday that she will retire as president and CEO, with a long runway for a handoff. The board has selected current Chief Operating Officer Lina Hourani‑Harajli to succeed her as president and CEO starting Oct. 1, 2026. Freij will stay on through the transition, then move into a strategic adviser role. She joined ACCESS in 1991 and, after more than 35 years of service, stepped into the president and CEO position in 2021. During that time, ACCESS grew from a neighborhood agency into a network of health centers, cultural institutions, and regional programs.
In a press release from ACCESS, the board said it had "unanimously voted" to appoint Hourani‑Harajli and praised Freij for building "a culture of leadership and continuity." The release spotlights Hourani‑Harajli's role overseeing human resources, information technology, facilities and major buildouts, noting that she has been with ACCESS since 2000. Freij is quoted as saying, "I have every confidence in Lina and the remarkable team that will continue leading ACCESS forward."
Transition Timeline And Who's Next
According to The Detroit News, Hourani‑Harajli has served as ACCESS's chief operating officer for more than a decade and is widely viewed as a steady internal successor. The outlet reports that she founded ACCESS's business operations division and led planning for several new facilities, giving her hands-on experience with the nonprofit's capital projects. Staff and board members described the choice as a move designed to ensure continuity as ACCESS finishes major programs this year.
Freij's Record And The Recovery Center
ACCESS credits Freij with leading major capital campaigns, including the launch of the Arab American National Museum, and with steering the drive to fund the ACCESS Recovery Center, which the organization says is scheduled to open this fall. The release notes that Freij helped raise "tens of millions" of dollars for expansion, founded the Center for Arab American Philanthropy, and launched the Center for Arab Narratives. Board Chair Hussien Shousher praised her for helping "transform ACCESS into a national institution" while keeping the work rooted in the local community.
How Freij Built Arab American Philanthropy
The Detroit Regional Chamber named Freij one of its 2026 Michiganians of the Year for her work advancing cultural institutions and community services in Michigan, according to the Detroit Regional Chamber. Coverage in Nonprofit Quarterly has highlighted the Center for Arab American Philanthropy as a model for mobilizing Arab American donors and strengthening local organizations. Analysts say the succession plan and the decision to elevate an internal operations leader reflects a broader trend toward formal leadership pipelines at community-rooted nonprofits.
What This Means For Dearborn Residents
As reported by The Detroit News, ACCESS operates 11 locations across metro Detroit and runs dozens of programs, from primary care to workforce training. With the Recovery Center and other projects scheduled to roll out this fall, leaders are framing the internal promotion and Freij's ongoing advisory role as a way to preserve continuity of services for residents. With a veteran operations chief set to assume full leadership on Oct. 1, ACCESS says clients and partners should expect steady hands as its programs continue to grow.
